Island



(NoModeL) v H. M. SWEENEY.

Bottle Stopp'ef and Fastener Therefor.

No. 241,089. Patented May 3,1881.

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N. PETERS. PhokoLilhogmpher. Washington. D, C

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUGH M. SWEENEY, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

BOTTLE-STOPPER AND FASTENER THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,089, dated May 3, 1881,

Application filed September 27, 1850.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUGH M. SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Stoppers for Aerated and other Liquids; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in bottle-stoppers for aerated and other liquids, and it is constructed, arranged, and carried out in a manner as will hereinafter be more fully shown and described, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the device as shown in position when the bottle is corked. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the device in the same position. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of the device in an unlocked position. Fig. 4 represents a plan view. Fig. 5 represents a perspective view of the bailwire, and Fig. 6 represents-a central longitudinal section of the rubber stopper and its metal-,

lie head.

Similar letters refer to similar parts whereever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

N represents the bottle, and N its neck, as usual. Around the neck of the bottle is secured the wire a a, that is provided with side extensions, a a, that serve as t'ulcra for the bail-wire. The latter is made in one continuous piece, as shown at Bin Fig. 5, and is composed of the semicircular lever b, the curved side extensions, 0 0, having curved slots c c, embracing the fulcra a a, and locking-recesses c c, as shown. The upper part of the said bail-wire passes upward as bent springbars d d, the inner ends, (1 d, of which are adapted to rest loosely in the side perforations, e e, in the upper part of the metallic headpiece c, (shown in Fig. 6.)

The lower part of the metallic piece 0 is provided with an annular groove, 0, around which (No model.)

fits the elastic rubber stopperf, that is provided with an internal chamber, f, by which arrangement the said elastic stopperf is capable of being compressed vertically and allowed to expand laterally, so as to cover the mouth of the bottle when the bail-wire is locked into position, as fully shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The lower end of the elastic stopperf is preferabl y recessed at f, for the purpose of allowing the pressure within the bottle, when the latteris corked, to act on said recessed end of the stopper, causing its annular edge f to be forced against the inside of the neck, and therei by to effect a very close connection, so as to prevent the escape of any portion of the contents of the bottle. 4

The metallic head 0 is furthermore provided with the inclined faces 0' e, as shown in Fig. 4, by which arrangement I am enabled to effect the inter ocking of the upper ends, d d, of the bail-wire with the recesses c e in the said metallic piece 0 after the stopper is put in place at the neck of the bottle, simply by forcing the said ends of the bail-wire laterally on the inclined faces 0 0 until the ends d cl reach the recesses e 6, when the spring of the bailwire causes the ends d d to look into the said recesses e e, as shown.

To disconnect the upper ends, d d, of the bail-wire from the metallic stopper-head c, it is only necessary to expand them laterally far enough until removed from the recesses e 6, when the stopper may be entirely disconnected from the bottle. This is very desirable in the process of filling bottles with aerated liquids, such as soda-water or similar gas-charged liquids; and for this purpose the exterior surface, F, of the elastic stopper is made as a vertical cylinder, so as to fit closely within the usual filling-cylinder of a bottling-machine, in a similar manner as ordinary corks are used, so as to enable it to be driven by the usual plunger on such machines into the neck of the bottle without allowing the gas-charged liquid to escape, and after the stopper is so driven the bail-wire, as shown, can instantly be secured in a manner as described, and the whole locked into position, as fully shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

This improved device is equally useful for closing bottles containing lager-beer or other beverages, and for such purposes it may not be necessary to disconnect the ends of the bailwire from the metallic stopper-head.

I claim- 1. In a bottle-stopping device, the herein-described bail-wireB, nladein onesingle piece, and composed of the semicircularlever I), the curved side extensions, 0 c, with their curved slots 0 c and locking-recesses 0 c, and having its upper spring ends, d d, bent laterally at d d and adapted to fit into the locking-recesses e e on the metallic stopper-head c, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with the stopper-head c, having an annular groove, 0, the cylindrical elastic stopper f, having an internal chamber, f, below the stopper-head and above that portion of the stopper which is adapted to enter the bottle, as and for the purpose set forth and described.

3. In combination with the neck-wire a a, and its fulcra a, a, the single-piece bail-wire B, composed of the semicircular lever I), the curved side extensions, 0 0, having curved slots 0 c and lockingrecesses c 0, upper spring ends, 01 dd (1, the head 0, having inclined faces 0 e, and locking-recesses e c, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HUGH M. SWEENEY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM SWEENEY, FRANK O. SWEENEY. 

